UN.GIFT Publications

Hard Data compares the data collection mechanisms in the 11 CBSS Member States and provides an overview of the categories of information on human trafficking cases that is currently collected, by whom it is collected, analysed and published as well as its public availability. To serve this purpose we used the Guidelines for the Collection of Data on Trafficking in Human Beings including Comparable Indicators (BM.I / IOM 2009) as a framework against which to assess existing mechanisms. The conclusions observe that there is a lack of comparable and comprehensive data - resulting in large uncertainties about the scope of the problem. It also highlights the missing link between operational actors collecting data and administrative or policy actors processing data and therefore suggests a minimum set of data indicators which would help bridge this gap. The study underlines the need to develop comparable data collection mechanisms and serves as a tool for organisations to use to enhance their own systems.